Beef Shepherds Pie with Peas (Printable version)
Classic British comfort food with creamy potato topping and savory beef filling.
# Ingredient list:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1.5 lbs ground beef
05 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup beef broth
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 2 cups frozen peas and carrots mix
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Mashed Potato Topping
13 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 1/2 cup milk, warmed
16 - Salt and pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place potatoes in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Mash with butter, warmed milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and all-purpose flour, cooking for 1 minute to remove raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in beef broth followed by Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and dried rosemary.
06 - Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Fold in frozen peas and carrots. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
07 - Transfer the beef filling evenly into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, spreading evenly with a spatula. Use a fork to create texture on the surface.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the potato topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
09 - Allow the Shepherd's Pie to rest for 5 minutes before serving to set the filling.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- One dish that feeds a crowd and reheats beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests.
- The contrast between rich, savory beef filling and creamy mashed potato topping feels indulgent but comes together faster than you'd think.
- It's adaptable—swap the protein, play with herbs, add cheese—and it still feels like home cooking.
02 -
- Don't skip browning the beef properly—a wet pan or overcrowded skillet means the meat steams instead of caramelizing, and that's where all the flavor lives.
- If your mashed potatoes are sitting around, they'll thicken up as they cool; you might need to loosen them with an extra splash of milk right before spreading.
- The filling should be thick enough to hold a spoon upright but still saucy; if it's too thin, your top layer will slide around, and if it's too thick, it becomes dense.
03 -
- Creating fork ridges on the potato top isn't just pretty—it increases the surface area for browning, so you get more of those golden, crispy bits everyone reaches for.
- If you have fresh herbs, add a small handful of chopped parsley or chives to the mashed potatoes for a subtle brightness that lifts the whole dish without overpowering it.